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AMAZON
RAINFOREST
&
ANDEAN
EASTERN SLOPES

Located on the biodiverse eastern slopes of the Andes and extending into the vast Amazon Rainforest, this region hosts some of the world’s highest concentrations of wildlife. It plays a critical role in global climate regulation, harboring thousands of plant and animal species, many of which are endemic and threatened Recognized as one of the most important conservation areas on Earth, it offers exceptional opportunities for a memorable wildlife and nature experience.

ITINERARY

SANI LODGE- YASUNI NATIONAL PARK - WILD SUMACO - SAN ISIDRO- GUANGO-PAPALLACTA PASS - ANTISANA

DAY 1

ARRIVAL TO QUITO
UNESCO World Heritage city, capital of Ecuador. Upon arrival in Quito, you will be transferred to your hotel. Most international flights to Ecuador arrive late at night. Overnight hotel at Ilayaku Lodge.

DAY 2

SANI LODGE

Sani Lodge

Departing from Quito, a 30-minute flight over the eastern Andean mountain range will take you to the city of Puerto Francisco de Orellana (Coca). After landing, about mid-morning, a 5-min transfer from the airport to the main dock will drive you to embark onto a comfortable covered motor boat. Here you start a canoe ride along the Napo River for about 2 1/2 hours while enjoying a delicious box lunch served in route. The Sani Isla Kichwa Community was founded with the purpose of defending their culture, customs, and language. The community protects 42,000 hectares north and south of the Napo River. The community currently includes 600 adults and children, working together for mutual support, continuing their traditions, and protecting their territory. In the afternoon you’ll have time to explore around the lodge with the aid of dugout canoes, or you can have a short walk on the nearby trails with the opportunity to start your experience by photographing some of the most iconic species of this unmatched region.

DAY 3

YASUNI NATIONAL PARK

Yasuni

Today you will visit Yasuní National Park, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Covering over 9,800 km² of pristine Amazon rainforest, Yasuní was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1989 and holds the highest known diversity of amphibians, birds, mammals, and vascular plants in the Western Hemisphere. You’ll start the morning at one of the most accessible parrot clay licks in the Amazon, arriving just before activity begins. Up to five species may be observed here, such as Dusky-headed Parakeet, White-eyed Parakeet, Blue-headed Parrot, Yellow-crowned and Mealy Amazon Parrots. Then, you’ll walk approximately 30 minutes through terra firme forest to reach a second clay lick, active around 10h00, where Cobalt-winged Parakeet, Orange-cheeked Parrot, Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet and the magnificent Scarlet Macaw are often seen. The spectacle is impressive: birds first call from the canopy, gradually descending to the clay to ingest mineral-rich soil that helps them neutralize toxins from their natural diet. Later, you’ll enjoy a box lunch at the Kichwa Community, before navigating to Sani Lodge. You will finish the day exploring the lodge’s surroundings, either along its network of forest trails or by canoe, looking for more birds and local wildlife as daylight fades—a perfect way to close a rewarding day in the heart of the Amazon.

DAY 4

SANI LODGE
After breakfast, experience the bird life on the tree tops from the 35-meter (118 ft.) observation tower. To get there your leaders will paddle on the Challuacocha Lake for 30 minutes followed by a short 10-minute walk. Over 565 species of birds have been registered so far. Flocks of oropendolas, aracaris, tanagers, and euphonias roam the canopy in search of fruit. Spangled and plum-throated cotingas sing from the treetops while raptors perch on vantage points to dry off in the morning sun. White-browed purpletufts and crowned slaty flycatchers compete for insects, numerous parrots and macaws fly by or drop in if there is a fruiting tree nearby, and many other species wander past (and through!) the towering tree. The journey continues exploring the nearby trails searching for more Amazonian wildlife. After lunch at the lodge, you will explore a terra firme trail to discover the beautiful and mysterious wildlife that hides in the forest interior. There are great possibilities to see lizards, different species of monkeys, plus rare and unique insects, amphibians and more.

DAY 5

WILD SUMACO

Wildsumaco

At sunrise you'll be transfer back to the Napo river to aboard our comfortable motor boat for your return trip back to Coca. After entering the docking area at port, you'll make a brief stop to prepare and continue on a road trip for 2 1/2 hours out to Wild Sumaco Lodge. The lodge is set on a ridge in the Andes' eastern foothills, with panoramic views reaching across the Rio Pucuno Valley and to the Andes beyond. The lodge is located at a comfortable elevation of about 4900 feet a.s.l.; the forest reserve ranges from 3900 to 4900 feet a.s.l. Due to its location on the Equator, the steep Andean foothills, and the close proximity of the Amazon, the Sumaco area hosts one of the richest diversity records in the world. A wonderful mix of cloud forest species, foothill specialties, and typically amazonian birds share Wildsumaco's lush subtropical rain forest with a myriad of other animals. An astonishing 510 bird species have been recorded on this reserve and the immediately surrounding area, many of which are rare, endangered, or very difficult to see elsewhere. Overnight at Wild Sumaco.

DAY 6

WILD SUMACO
There will be 2 consecutive days continuously on this route in which you will have a wonderful experience in Wildsumaco and fully enjoy your stay. Wildsumaco Lodge is the perfect destination for those looking for great birds and new experiences in the eastern foothills of Ecuador. More than 30 species of hummingbirds have visited Wildsumaco feeders to date, including Lazuline Sabrewing, Ecuatoriano Piedtail, Napo Sabrewing, Black-throated Brilliant, White-tailed Hillstar, Wire-Crested Thorntail, and Gould's Jewelfront. In the vicinity of the rooms, you can frequently spot hummingbirds such as the Gorgeted Woodstar, and Violet-headed Hummingbird gracefully hovering around the porter weed, adding a touch of vibrancy to the surroundings. As night falls, the enchanting calls of the Banded-bellied Owl, Rufescent Screech Owl, and Foothill Screech Owl can be heard nearby, creating an atmospheric ambiance. While most of the mesmerizing mammalian inhabitants of Wild Sumaco are elusive and primarily active during the nocturnal hours, the Napo Tamarin (formerly known as the Black-mantle Tamarin) presents a delightful exception. These curious creatures make a daily appearance, attracted by the hanging bananas outside the deck, and can often be observed from the road or pathways. Night at Wild Sumaco (B/L/D)

DAY 7 & 8

CABAÑAS SAN ISIDRO

San Isidro

After an early birding along the road you'll reach Cabañas San Isidro. This reserve and lodge is located at 6800 feet a.s.l. with an amazing view of the Quijos Valley and Guacamayos Ridge. The lodge is set on a re-growing pasture now surrounded by secondary forest. The cabins are only a five-minute walk from a large, privately-owned reserve of about 2200 acres of pristine primary humid forest that connects two larger national reserves, one at each end. The plan is to get to San Isidro in time to get settled into your rooms, and even take a quick look around. Large mixed flocks roam the forest such as Saffron-crowned Tanager, Black-eared Hemispingus, and Rufous-breasted Flycatcher; whereas Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatchers and Long-tailed Antbirds skulk in the bamboo patches along the road. Hummingbird feeders attract many different species like Bronzy Inca, Collared Inca, Gorgeted Woodstar, Green Violetear, Long-Tailed Sylph, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Sparkling Violetear among others. By night you’re within earshot of hollering Rufous-banded Owls, as well as the mysterious “San Isidro Owl,” which seems to be an undescribed species. Overnight at Cabañas San Isidro.

DAY 9

GUANGO - PAPALLACTA PASS

Guango

Your journey will begin early in the morning for a scenic drive towards Guango Lodge to get a taste of the beautiful Andean temperate forests. ​Colorful mixed flocks with birds such as Lacrimose and Hooded Mountain Tanagers, Blue-backed Conebill, and Black-capped Hemispingus can be seen around the lodge. Here you have possibilities for rare and very local birds like the Mountain Avocetbill, the stunning Gray Breasted Mountain-Toucan, Andean Guan, and Northern Mountain Cacique. Along the Papallacta River we’ll try to find a unique resident of fast flowing mountain rivers, a powerful swimmer and diver: the Torrent Duck. This could definitely be one of our day highlights! After lunch If weather allows after lunch you'll visit the Papallacta Pass, a dirt road into the Cayambe Coca National Park brings us into the high elevation paramo at Papallacta, a very tundra-like habitat. On clear days the views of the surroundings and various volcanoes are breath-taking; a stop right up at the pass is one of the best spots to photograph the snow-capped Antisana Volcano as it towers over the mountains below. from this point on we should start scanning the sky from time to time for Variable Hawk, Carunculated Caracara and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, that may soar overhead. We’ll check stands of Polylepis woodland for Giant Conebill , Black-backed Bush Tanager, White-chinned Thistletail, Buff-breasted Mountain-Tanager, Pearled Treerunner, Golden-crowned Tanager, Pale-naped Brush-Finch and the scarce Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant. At the highest elevations you’ll seek out the secretive and cryptic Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. Overnight at Guango Lodge.

DAY 10

ANTISANA

Antisana

If you were not lucky with the weather the previous day, you'll try again the Papallacta Pass on your way to Antisana. Dramatic changes in vegetation patterns take place with altitude variation. The snow-covered top of Antisana Volcano is located at 18,886 ft a.s.l.. It’s the fourth highest peak of Ecuador. Something that makes this place wonderful is the contact with undisturbed nature apart from crowded touristic places and its beautiful Andean scenery. The reserve provides opportunities to understand the geological history of the Andes and the importance of this unique ecosystem. We may see many high altitude and local specialties including Ecuadorian Hillstar visiting the Chuquiragua bushes, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Andean Tit-Spineatil, Many-striped Canastero, Tawny Antpitta, Tufted tit-Tyrant, Red-crested Cotinga, Paramo Pipit, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch and Black-winged Ground-Dove. We’ll have the chance to see many Carunculated Caracaras, Andean Gulls, Andean Lapwings, and many other species that are absent or difficult at other sites such as the rare Black-faced Ibis. This reserve has at least 4 different cliffs in which up to 30 Andean condors have been counted perching; this is a large number considering an estimated population of just 102 wild individuals in the country. Birdlife categorizes Antisana as an Important Bird Area and is part of The Nature Conservancy's Condor Bioreserve, it is just a worthy glimpse between 10500 ft to 15000 ft a.s.l.

DAY 10 PART 2

ANTISANA
An early departure from Guango will be taking us to the western entrance of the Antisana Ecological Reserve, about 48 km (30 miles) southeast of Quito, with a mixture of dwarf forest below and paramo above. Arriving at "La Mica" lake, we explore the lake shore in search of Slate-colored Coots, Andean teals, Andean ruddy ducks and Yellow-billed Pintail. This is also the best place in Ecuador to get a closer look at the regal Silvery Grebe. Lunch at Tambocondor, a locally owned restaurant and lodge with a privileged view of the Andean Condor cliffs and with many species of hummingbirds visiting the feeders and the beautiful flowers around the restaurant. They have a wonderful platform from where we have seen Spectaclead bears on multiple occasions feeding on the succulent Puyas that abound in the area. After this, if you do not join the available extensions to the Andean western slopes or other destinations, you will be transferred to the Quito International Airport to catch your flight back home. If you need an extra night to rest and start fresh the next day, please let us know so we can make the necessary arrangements.

ITINERARY MAP

*Ask us about our options to extend your trip to the Andean Western Slopes or to other destinations.

Pricing

PLEASE NOTE: 
This is a sample itinerary subject to change due to weather conditions, safety, and particular interests of guests and groups. Changes and additions are made in order to maximize your birding experience, wilderness enjoyment and cultural interaction with local people.

This is a birding tour with good opportunities for photography at feeders at different reserves, however if you are a serious photographer please request more details about our photo focused tour.

Note: A city tour in Old Town Quito or check for options of day tours close to Quito, which can be included upon request at the beginning of the trip.

Trips considerations

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ADDITIONAL DAY(S):
PLEASE ASK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
ON ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES AND DESTINATIONS TO EXTEND YOUR TRIP.